The first day of winter 2026 is Monday, December 21, 2026 in the Northern Hemisphere, at 20:50 UTC (the December solstice). The meteorological first day of winter is December 1.
| Year | Day | Date and time (UTC) | Your time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday | December 21, 20:50 UTC | |
| 2027 | Wednesday | December 22, 02:42 UTC | |
| 2028 | Thursday | December 21, 08:20 UTC | |
| 2029 | Friday | December 21, 14:14 UTC | |
| 2030 | Saturday | December 21, 20:10 UTC | |
| 2031 | Monday | December 22, 01:56 UTC | |
| 2032 | Tuesday | December 21, 07:56 UTC |
The astronomical first day of winter 2026 (December solstice) is Monday, December 21, 2026, at 20:50 UTC. The date can be a day earlier or later in your time zone. The meteorological first day of winter is always December 1.
A calendar year (365 days) is slightly shorter than the 365.24 days Earth takes to circle the Sun, so the December solstice arrives about six hours later each year and then jumps back after a leap year. That is why the date moves between two days.
Astronomical winter starts at the December solstice, which depends on Earth's tilt and orbit. Meteorological winter covers three whole calendar months starting on December 1, which makes weather statistics easier to compare year to year.
No. The seasons are opposite. When it is the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it is the first day of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
It is Wednesday, December 22, 2027 (UTC).
See also: Solstice and equinox dates 2026-2032 · First day of winter · First day of spring · First day of summer · First day of fall · Winter solstice · All holiday dates
Moon phase today · Full moon dates · When do the clocks change? · What day is Christmas? · All tools